From: newsletter-bounces@thepcgurus.com on behalf of Kevin-PC Gurus
[microdome@seidata.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:00 PM
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Cc: PC Gurus Newsletter
Subject: GuruNews, Volume 8 Number 12, 3-27-08
Attachments: ATT00255.txt
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Vol. 8, No. 12
3-27-08
1 Rogue Spyware Scanners
2 Bond… James Bond
3 Adobe beta, Comcast Mea Culpa, Sony loses even more face, AMD Triple-Core
4 Power Tools
5 IE clutter
Many times over the years we’ve warned of bogus programs on the web that, through pop-ups or deceptive marketing, entice or frighten users into installing them and getting caught in an ugly loop of hijacked start pages, altered backgrounds and wasted resources.
At this point it’s gotten so bad that nearly every machine I see has something fake on it, often purchased by the unwary consumer, causing all kinds of problems. It’s worse than any serious virus threat I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying a lot.
Just to give you an idea, here’s a list (a long, boring, frightening list) of the malicious software out there whose names start with Spy:
Spy-Aid Exterminator Pro, Spy Advanced, Spy Analyst, Spy Annihilator, Spy Assassin, Spy Assault, Spy Away, Spy Axe, SpyBan, SpyBeware, SpyBlast, Spy-Block, SpyBlocs, Spy Bouncer, Spy Burn, Spy Buster, SpyClean, Spy Cleaner, Spy Contra, Spy-Control, SpyCrush, Spy Crusher, Spy Cut, Spy Dawn, Spy Deface, Spy Defence, Spy Deleter, Spy Demolisher, SpyDestroy Pro, Spy Detector.
Deep breath, and: SpyEliminator, SpyFalcon, SpyFerret, SpyFighter, SpyFirewall, SpyHeal, SpyiBlock, SpyKiller, Spyinator, Spy-Kill, Spy Killer, SpyKiller 2005, SpyKiller Pro, SpyLax, SpyLocked, SpyMarshal, SpyNoMore, Spy Officer, SpyOnThis, SpyPry, Spy Reaper, SpyRemover, SpySheriff, SpyShield, Spy-Shield, Spy Sniper, Spy Sniper Pro, SpySoldier, SpySpotter, Spy Stalker, SpyStriker.
One more deep inhale: SpyToaster, Spytrooper, SpyVampire, SpyVest, SpyViper.
I’m going to stop there, I need a break, but I didn’t even start on the ones whose names start with Spyware. Regardless, hopefully you get the point.
Don’t believe anything you see in a pop-up, a “warning” that doesn’t come from a security program you’re running, an ad on some unfamiliar website or some advice from Joe SixPack next door.
Also bone up a little on what your computer actually does. One group of malware pops up a message that “Security Center” has detected spyware. Windows Security Center doesn’t do that, it just warns you if you have Automatic Updates turned off, if your Antivirus program is out of date or if your Firewall is disabled.
Another one pops up “System has detected a number of active spyware infections…”. Which “system” is that, exactly? No clue, but the message is bogus.
If something pops up on your screen that warns of an infection or a security risk and you can’t identify it as coming from a program you’re familiar with and that you’re running on your PC, close the message. Don’t click any Close buttons in the actual window, just click the X in the upper left corner. If there isn’t one then hold Alt and click F4. That should close it.
In this day and age security is hard. It takes research, reading up on trends and the latest threats as well as emerging malicious technologies. I don’t expect any of our readers to do that, but I’ll urge you to email us before you install any new security programs to ask if it’s legitimate, or ask the local shop that does your computer work. We clean this junk out as a big part of our job and can give you advice on what to do.
You can also check some of the nonsense you’re prompted to install against the total list (not complete, I’m certain, but a good guide nonetheless) at http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#products.
Don’t be your own worst enemy while trying to protect yourself…
Kevin Mefford, Editor
Terry Wise
Tech News of the Week
Adobe on Thursday announced
the commencement of public beta testing for its free online Adobe Photoshop Express
photo editing service and community:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207000161
Cable operator Comcast Corp promised on Thursday
to change how it manages its network in response to accusations it blocks some
Internet file-sharing services because they require large amounts of bandwidth:
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2720038620080327
Sony disclosed on its Website this week that the
personal information of users who have accessed its online content download
service might have been subject to unauthorized access through the PC version
of the Playstation Store:
http://www.crn.com/security/207000143
AMD announced Thursday the release of its
triple-core Phenom processors, the X3 8000 series. A first for the PC industry,
the triple-core chips are aimed at gamers and digital media enthusiasts for
whom performance and price are paramount:
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/gaming/62321.html
Copy us on the good stuff!
Matthew Dattilo
thepcgurus@gmail.com
www.mattstodayinhistory.com
Download of the Week
This week we are providing
not one, not two, but over a dozen free downloads from a site that we haven't
mentioned in quite a while.
The site is the brainchild of
programmer Karen Kenworthy and it offers Windows add-ons (Karen's Power Tools)
that do everything from keeping track of your printed documents, to synching
the time on the PC, to automatically copying and backing up files. As a bonus,
you can sign up for Kenworthy's free Karen's Power Tools Newsletter, which she
fills with useful, easy-to-comprehend tidbits about computing, Windows, and her
own collection of power tools. Although her site is not the most comprehensive
on the Internet, it is certainly a worthwhile stop for novice and advanced
users. It's free here: http://www.karenware.com/
If you're running the
"Realtime" feature in Hazard Shield (last week's download), you need
to disable it when installing software from this site, as well as most other
downloads. It's a bit aggressive with
its protection.
Art Maley
Email Question of the Week
Q: I updated my Java and in the process it installed a Google toolbar on the top of my monitor screen. Now I have 3/4 of my screen visible. I have the Yahoo toolbar on the top as my home page and Google toolbar right below it. Very cluttered stuff that I would like to eliminate. Is there any way I can delete the Google toolbar and clean up the top of my display. What do you guys do to see a full screen on your display? Thanks
A: Just right click on an open area of the Internet Explorer toolbar and uncheck the Google toolbar. If you click on the "customize" option in the menu, you can remove any features you don't want to see on the toolbar. F11 will give you more viewing area, too.
Art Maley
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